(click on any photo to enlarge) At the end of last years backpacking trip, Funk had asked me if I'd like to hike Mt. Whitney with him and his Dad. I told him I was all in. Funk's Dad (Dave Funk Sr.) wanted a goal to get in shape for and at age 68 wanted to stand on top of the tallest mountain in the lower 48. So earlier in the year I applied for FIVE Whitney permits on different dates. To my dismay I was turned down for
every one! Quite a popular mountain. Fast forward to Monday July 25. Some of Whitney's permits are available for day hikes (no overnight stay). If you arrive the day before your hike day, you can wait in line at the Ranger Station in the sprawling metropolis of Lone Pine. We were lucky enough to get three day hike permits for Tuesday, July 26. I had made a reservation online for a campsite at Whitney Portal Campground, where the 'Portal Trail' begins. We arrived at the Portal in the late afternoon, set up camp and went for a stroll to check out the area. After taking a few photos and enjoying the magnificent scenery, we stopped and ate dinner at the famous Portal Store. Their reputation with hikers is well known. Everyone says they have the best burgers ever. The burgers are just regular burgers, but after a spell on the trail, people are convinced they're eating the best thing ever! We fell asleep with full bellies and anticipation. The night before a climb is usually a restless one, and all three of us woke at 3am not having 'slept' all that much.
After some coffee and oatmeal we set off with our headlamps showing the way. The first few miles are in the green, lush Lone Pine Creek drainage after which we popped out and got this view back to the Owens Valley.
There was a fire burning southwest of Whitney and it added a surreal haze to the sky all day. As the sun rose, we put our headlamps away and enjoyed the first few hours of the hike. The Portal Trail starts from the east at 8500ft elevation and climbs to 14,470ft. in 10.7 miles (for a round trip day hike of almost 22 miles). No easy day for anyone, let alone a 68 year old! The trick is to drink a crapload of fluid in the first 5 hours to get you through the last 5 hours. This really minimizes the dizzying effect of high altitude. I started with 5 liters in two bladders and still had to fill a bottle three times from the creek on the way back. Funk Sr. was moving along steadily and before we knew it we were at Trail Camp, the area that most people depart from on overnight trips.
From Trail Camp the trail starts to get serious and the views are expansive. The infamous '100 Switchbacks' start just above Trail Camp. Although the trail is fantastically well engineered, it really starts to gain altitude here. Unbeknownst to me, the middle section of the switchbacks has one of the highest concentration of Polemonium flowers in the Sierra.
Usually you see so few together that you don't really get much fragrance from them. The patch on Whitney was so big that I was enveloped in a high sierra perfume factory. Above the purple carpet, we reached the snow and granite section where the 'Cables' section of the climb is. Steel cables have been installed in the granite, where the trail sees year around snow, for hiker safety.
After navigating the cables there are a few more long switchbacks and one snow crossing that take you to Trail Crest. This is the spot that the eastern and western trails converge with the single out and back trail to the summit proper. From this spot there are about 2 miles of rock and scree that take to the top of the mountain. We arrived later than I would have liked as I had a turn around time of 1pm in my mind. We were on the summit at about 1:45pm. Funk Sr. was very ecstatic to reach the top.
I could also tell he suffered a little from summit fever and was going to have a long slow hike down as he had used a lot of his reserves to get to the top. I was a bit worried but I shouldn't have been. Funk Sr. is an ex Marine and about as tough as they come. I went down a little quicker than Funk and Funk Sr. and waited at Trail Camp. I had time to dip my feet in the lake and eat a little something. As soon as they arrived I donated the rest of my food to Sr. and headed down the last 6 miles by myself. Sr. really wanted the special t-shirt you can get at the Portal Store that says " I Did The Big One In One Day ". The store closes at 8pm and we were worried that we wouldn't make it in time. So I boogied down at a brisk pace and managed to get Sr. his shirt. Funk and Funk Sr. arrived back at the trailhead at 8:40pm for a round trip time of 16 hours. A seriously long day. None of that matters. He did it. When he gets back to the office all they'll want to know is if he summited. He can proudly say "YES". Congratulations Senior. Cheers.
(click on any photo to enlarge) At the end of last years backpacking trip, Funk had asked me if I'd like to hike Mt. Whitney with him and his Dad. I told him I was all in. Funk's Dad (Dave Funk Sr.) wanted a goal to get in shape for and at age 68 wanted to stand on top of the tallest mountain in the lower 48. So earlier in the year I applied for FIVE Whitney permits on different dates. To my dismay I was turned down for every one! Quite a popular mountain. Fast forward to Monday July 25. Some of Whitney's permits are available for day hikes (no overnight stay). If you arrive the day before your hike day, you can wait in line at the Ranger Station in the sprawling metropolis of Lone Pine. We were lucky enough to get three day hike permits for Tuesday, July 26. I had made a reservation online for a campsite at Whitney Portal Campground, where the 'Portal Trail' begins. We arrived at the Portal in the late afternoon, set up camp and went for a stroll to check out the area. After taking a few photos and enjoying the magnificent scenery, we stopped and ate dinner at the famous Portal Store. Their reputation with hikers is well known. Everyone says they have the best burgers ever. The burgers are just regular burgers, but after a spell on the trail, people are convinced they're eating the best thing ever! We fell asleep with full bellies and anticipation. The night before a climb is usually a restless one, and all three of us woke at 3am not having 'slept' all that much. 
After some coffee and oatmeal we set off with our headlamps showing the way. The first few miles are in the green, lush Lone Pine Creek drainage after which we popped out and got this view back to the Owens Valley. 
There was a fire burning southwest of Whitney and it added a surreal haze to the sky all day. As the sun rose, we put our headlamps away and enjoyed the first few hours of the hike. The Portal Trail starts from the east at 8500ft elevation and climbs to 14,470ft. in 10.7 miles (for a round trip day hike of almost 22 miles). No easy day for anyone, let alone a 68 year old! The trick is to drink a crapload of fluid in the first 5 hours to get you through the last 5 hours. This really minimizes the dizzying effect of high altitude. I started with 5 liters in two bladders and still had to fill a bottle three times from the creek on the way back. Funk Sr. was moving along steadily and before we knew it we were at Trail Camp, the area that most people depart from on overnight trips. 
From Trail Camp the trail starts to get serious and the views are expansive. The infamous '100 Switchbacks' start just above Trail Camp. Although the trail is fantastically well engineered, it really starts to gain altitude here. Unbeknownst to me, the middle section of the switchbacks has one of the highest concentration of Polemonium flowers in the Sierra.
Usually you see so few together that you don't really get much fragrance from them. The patch on Whitney was so big that I was enveloped in a high sierra perfume factory. Above the purple carpet, we reached the snow and granite section where the 'Cables' section of the climb is. Steel cables have been installed in the granite, where the trail sees year around snow, for hiker safety. 
After navigating the cables there are a few more long switchbacks and one snow crossing that take you to Trail Crest. This is the spot that the eastern and western trails converge with the single out and back trail to the summit proper. From this spot there are about 2 miles of rock and scree that take to the top of the mountain. We arrived later than I would have liked as I had a turn around time of 1pm in my mind. We were on the summit at about 1:45pm. Funk Sr. was very ecstatic to reach the top.
I could also tell he suffered a little from summit fever and was going to have a long slow hike down as he had used a lot of his reserves to get to the top. I was a bit worried but I shouldn't have been. Funk Sr. is an ex Marine and about as tough as they come. I went down a little quicker than Funk and Funk Sr. and waited at Trail Camp. I had time to dip my feet in the lake and eat a little something. As soon as they arrived I donated the rest of my food to Sr. and headed down the last 6 miles by myself. Sr. really wanted the special t-shirt you can get at the Portal Store that says " I Did The Big One In One Day ". The store closes at 8pm and we were worried that we wouldn't make it in time. So I boogied down at a brisk pace and managed to get Sr. his shirt. Funk and Funk Sr. arrived back at the trailhead at 8:40pm for a round trip time of 16 hours. A seriously long day. None of that matters. He did it. When he gets back to the office all they'll want to know is if he summited. He can proudly say "YES". Congratulations Senior. Cheers.
1 comment:
Sweeeeet. Long day! Dude, we're about overdue for some Sierra gallivanting.
Post a Comment